Counterpoint: 4G Cat 1 bis will replace 4G Cat 1 for IoT in 2030

According to the latest report from Counterpoint, 4G Cat 1 bis is expected to replace nearly 95% of 4G Cat 1 by 2030. IoT device OEMs have been using 4G Cat 1 technology for many years, and IoT devices are created using a single antenna. Device OEMs and chipset vendors realized that LTE networks are widely available and have wide coverage, and a single antenna is enough. Therefore, OEMs and chipset vendors developed a specific 4G Cat 1 chipset that has both transmit and receive capabilities and provides multiple antennas, which helps them reduce the cost of 4G Cat 1 bis modules. Developing a dedicated single 4G Cat 1 bis chipset helps reduce power consumption and component costs.

China is leading the way in developing 4G Cat 1 bis network technology. China dominates the 4G Cat 1 bis network market in 2023, accounting for 87% of the market share. By 2030, markets outside of China are expected to account for about 60% of total shipments, driven by demand from major emerging markets such as India and Latin America.

4G Cat 1 bis is expected to be a popular choice for many cellular IoT applications due to lower cost and better network roaming compared to other connectivity options. Benefits of 4G Cat 1 bis include lower cost, with modules currently available in the global market 40% cheaper than 4G Cat 1. In addition, 4G Cat 1 bis offers seamless network roaming, avoiding the challenges faced by NB-IoT and Cat-M. Choosing the right connectivity depends on the use case, as when it comes to battery-powered IoT devices, 4G Cat 1 bis may affect battery life in areas with poor coverage.